NSN wins US$150 million Iraq contract

 
Al Dahwi says Zain will spend US$350 million on CACAPEX in 2008.

Nokia Siemens Networks has won a US$150 million contract to upgrade networks for Zain Iraq, the country’s leading mobile operator.

Over a period of 10 to 12 months the network capacity will be increased and two core networks will be integrated, creating one of the largest mobile networks in the Middle East.

Zain Iraq was born out of mobile operators MTC Atheer and Iraqna and now has eight million active customers. Zain Iraq hopes to consolidate its leadership as the core network upgrade will allow the operation to serve 12 million customers.

“Capital expenditure for 2008 is likely to reach US$350m in the core, radio and IT systems,” Ali Al Dahwi, CEO of Zain in Iraq states. “We are set to invest US$150m in just the core during this year alone.”

Zain is in the process of upgrading the core and radio of the Iraqna network, allowing it to offer a more sophisticated range of data services. MTC-Atheer began offering GPRS to its subscribers prior to winning its permanent licence in August, and Al Dahwi says the market response to the offer of data services has been strong.

“By the end of June we ought to have completed the first phase of upgrading Iraqna’s core and radio,” Al Dahwi says. “By the end of the year, most of the phases are forecast to be complete.”